Police arrested a 50-year-old Puna man Friday (April 27, 2001) for attempted murder in a shooting attempt that occurred last Sunday in Pepeekeo, South Hilo.

The suspect, Melchor Ventura, was arrested at 9:55 a.m. at his Hawaiian Paradise Park residence for attempted murder. At 5:30 p.m., Hilo Criminal Investigation Section detectives charged Ventura with attempted murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and prohibited ownership of a firearm.

He is being held in the Hilo police cellblock in lieu $65,000 total bail.

On Sunday, a 19-year-old Pepeekeo man escaped injury after he was shot at near the Yoshizawa Store in Pepeekeo.

The victim told police he was shot at by a lone male gunman driving a dark-colored late 1980s model Honda sedan. The victim said the gunman apparently was laying in wait for him near the intersection of Kulaimano Road and Hawaii Belt Road (Route 19).

The victim said the gunman shot at him twice, then fled in the car toward Hilo.